My Wines

My Cellar

From France to California In 1970, American businessman John Goelet sent off French-born winemaker Bernard Portet on a mission to find new territory to grow world-class wines. In 1972, they co-founded Clos Du Val in the Stags Leap district of Napa Valley. The name means "small estate of a small valley". The estate is situated amongst 150-acres of vines beneath the famous palisades ... Read more

From France to California In 1970, American businessman John Goelet sent off French-born winemaker Bernard Portet on a mission to find new territory to grow world-class wines. In 1972, they co-founded Clos Du Val in the Stags Leap district of Napa Valley. The name means "small estate of a small valley". The estate is situated amongst 150-acres of vines beneath the famous palisades of Stags Leap, known for world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In 1973, Clos Du Val became one of the first wineries to stake a claim on the finest hillside terroir in Carneros, now recognized for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and today farms 180 acres for its estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Clos Du Val's old-world approach to winemaking combined with extraordinary Napa Valley fruit established Clos Du Val's tradition of classic estate wines with balance, elegance, complexity and longevity. Bernard's inagural 1972 vintage was one of only six California Cabernets selected for the legendary Judgement of Paris tasting. The same vintage took first place in a rematch ten years later, proving that Clos Du Val wines stand the test of time. Today, winemaker John Clews runs day-to-day winery and vineyards operations, working closely with vineyard manager Al Wagner to farm the land gently and sustainably. Once the grapes are harvested, John and Bernard make blending decisions together to produce a renowned portfolio of wines which are truly expressive of the terroir from which they came. Read less

finally got to understand "green peppers" on the nose with this wine, also got a big herb and spice feel on the nose and front...got big vegetal and alcohol on palate that made it harder to grasp the oak and fruit, not sure if it was acidity or tannins...possibly let it sit in the decanter for an hour or two...

Wine Enthusiast ReviewRated 92 CELLAR SELECTIONThis is the winery's flagship wine, the one that made it famous decades ago. It hasn't changed much over the years. It's still tannic and austere in youth, requiring many years to develop. But it's a cellar guarantee, with a wealth of concentrated cassis and cedar flavors that are just waiting for those tannins to drop out. Best after 2010.Wine Tasting NotesThe Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon, Clos Du Vals flagship estate wine, has a deep purple hue that darkens to a black core. Black fruit with dried herbs, spice and a hint of game pervade the nose. On the palate, the wine explodes with rich, mouth-coating flavors of intense fruit. This full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon has a solid middle, velvety tannins and a long finish. It is built to age and can be cellared for at least 10-15 years.